Frank Ureña

2023 - Present

Grenada and U.S. clinical rotations

MD Candidate

Clinical training that keeps future research grounded in real patient questions, real workflows, and real outcome gaps.

• Integrating core rotations across internal medicine, surgery, and subspecialties with a long-term physician-scientist trajectory.
• Using clinical exposure to identify the disease questions most worth translating back to the laboratory.

2022 - 2023

Boston, MA

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Extended translational training into cancer biology, organoid systems, and the immune microenvironment in human disease models.

• Studied cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and immune integration in alveolar type 2 organoid models.
• Expanded fluency in patient-derived organoids, single-cell approaches, and translational study design relevant to clinically meaningful questions.

2019 - 2023

Honolulu, HI

Graduate Research Assistant and PhD Researcher

Built a mechanistic immunology program around microRNA control of T-cell proliferation and signaling.

• Designed and executed studies defining miR-15a/16 regulation of the MEK1-ERK1/2-Elk1 axis in T-cell activation.
• Graduated with a PhD in Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering after connecting molecular insight to broader translational relevance in immune modulation.

2019

Pullman, WA

Scientific Assistant

Supported gene-editing workflows that turned experimental questions into tractable biological models.

• Designed CRISPR guide RNAs and supported knockout and knock-in model generation pipelines.
• Contributed to validation and genotyping workflows that improved experimental readiness for downstream studies.

2018 - 2019

Honolulu, HI

Graduate Research Assistant

Worked on translational diagnostic development aimed at making cancer detection more actionable and accessible.

• Advanced a multiplex diagnostic platform for bladder cancer using cell culture and viral transfection workflows.
• Contributed to assay development experience that now informs a broader interest in translational platform design.

2016 - 2018

Boston, MA

Research Assistant III

Contributed to translational biomaterials work that connected engineered systems to immune protection.

• Helped develop immune-material platforms that supported a Nature Biomedical Engineering publication.
• Built experience in in vivo and in vitro experimental design, immune biocompatibility, and translational collaboration.

2015 - 2016

Woburn, MA

Research Associate

Toxicon Corporation

Learned how rigorous preclinical execution supports credible translational decision-making.

• Supported GLP and GMP surgical studies, toxicokinetic and pharmacokinetic workflows, and multi-species preclinical models.
• Worked across histology and clinical pathology coordination in settings where quality and reproducibility mattered.

2014 - 2015

Burlington, MA

Pathology Technician

Early exposure to pathology anchored later research interests in real disease processes and clinical context.

• Supported autopsy, surgical pathology, and cytology workflows including FISH and ThinPrep methodology.
• Developed an early appreciation for how tissue-level observations and clinical questions should inform laboratory investigation.